ABC, SK heads must shape u

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The series of elections have taken place in the country and now the local government units, from the provinces to the cities, towns and barangays have picked their leaders who should, by now, have started functioning in their offices.

The latest to be chosen were the presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains from the leaders of the town and city barangays. Before them were also chosen the youth leaders from the Sangguniang Kabataan who will head the group of their peers in their respective units.

The positions of the heads of the ABC and the SK are vital ones because, of all those chosen in the barangays, they are the ones who will hold greater responsibilities and authority in the next three years as they serve the term allotted to them. This is because of a peculiar provision in our Constitution that vests such leaders with full membership in the town or city council, or sanggunian, with all its privileges and emoluments.

In other words, the heads of the ABC and the SK will assume the same position and responsibility as any of the full-fledged and duly elected councilors or members of the Sangguniang Bayan or Panlungsod, as the case may be.

This is very important position since it allows them to participate in the lawmaking functions of the council and to propose and vote on measures that may be introduced during sessions. We hope that those who have been given this honor are fully aware of this, and are prepared to serve properly.

In the past few months, a lot of disappointment and frustration over the performance of those voted to these offices had been expressed, not only by residents, but even by members of Congress and the Senate whose perception of some ABC and SK representatives is one of non-performers, and, in some cases, apostles of grafters. That is why there is even a pending bill for the abolition, especially of the SK. But we have now elected them again as the law still requires, and we can only hope and relay to these new officials the fact that they could be endangered species, too, and that they must shape up – or go.*